With 20+ years of staffing experience, clients know when they’re working with Shannon, she’s going to sweep them off their feet.

Our director of business development covering both Northern Virginia and Washington, DC, has tons of great advice for clients and creative talent alike.

Want to know her favorite interview question? The must-have skill everyone should possess? Check out her answers to our 7 Quick Questions, then give her a ring!

What most excites you about your work and the contribution you make? We help companies and talent every day. Each week I get to interact with lots of fantastic people hiring for projects or contract-to-hire positions. I love following contacts and our talent from company to company, and watching their career trajectory throughout the years. I’d like to think that I was a small part of their success!

What’s your favorite interview question? Why is it your favorite?"Do you have any questions for us?" This is a great indicator that will immediately illustrate if candidates are actively engaged in your position. It also shows if they have done their homework on the company and the job. Someone who answers with, "No, I think you've answered all my questions," clearly does not have the drive and ambition necessary to separate them from the rest of the pack.

What do you love about working with creative talent? What's not to love? Every day is fascinating: viewing new portfolios from talent, seeing the latest and greatest reels from agency clients, hearing about the fun initiatives coming down the road from marketing contacts, learning from the masters about the new technologies that will be soon be a part of our lives, it’s endlessly fascinating. I have worked in the creative field for many moons and can't conceive of any other industry like it. It helps, too, that creative talent are all so cool, too!

What’s one important skill every person should have and why? The ability to actively listen. You can find out quite a bit about a person's needs and aspirations by asking short open-ended questions and then letting him/her talk. The key is to really pay close attention and to ask follow-up questions based on what you are hearing and experiencing, both verbally and nonverbally. This skill is invaluable in both professional and personal situations. It also helps create an additional level of empathy and trust with that person. I consider that a win-win.

If you could invent an app, what would it be and why? As a film buff, I would love to see an app that easily allows you to search a database of movies, then find clips and references you could then easily share on social media. No longer would you have to hope you’ve found the right clip on YouTube, you'd actually have the ability to create one yourself. The app would also let you make screen grabs for memes. Of course, everything would be properly licensed!

What made you want to work at Vitamin T? And what do you love most about working here? Not only have I always loved the digital and creative staffing industry, but Vitamin T embodies that boutique, local, hands-on feel, all while having the backing and support of an international industry leader. I Iove the tremendous support I get from other staff members, including peers, managers, and even all the way up to our beloved prez herself, Susie Hall!

How do you want to be remembered? With smiles and laughter, and a legacy of amazing friends and family.